SLANTED MIND

Chapter 12 – Coming Out

Where: in Meros’s house.

When: A few weeks after Meros and Rafae broke up, but before Rafae came to give Meros his things back.  

 

Meros and his mom were standing in the kitchen, facing each other.  In the living room, a young man lounged on the couch, obviously at his ease, watching TV.  Meros looked quite uncomfortable; he could barely stand looking at his mom in the eyes.  Her face was pale and clearly showed incomprehension at what he had just announced her.  

 

Meros’s mom:

…you’re moving out?

Meros:

…yes.  

Meros’s mom:

…with a friend.    

 

Meros started to sweat.    

 

Meros:

…yes.  

Meros’s mom:

…what’s his name?  

Meros:

…Thanat.  

Meros’s mom:

I’ve never even heard of him.  How come you’ve never told me about him?  Why has he never come here?  How did you meet him?  When?

Meros:

Uh…  I first met him something like 6 months ago…  At college…  

Meros’s mom:

Well I’m just not letting you go live with some guy you hardly know.  I want to meet him.  You know, sometimes you think you know someone…

 

Meros could feel his face turning pink.  He rolled his eyes in annoyance and interrupted his mother.  

 

Meros:

Mom!  I’m gonna invite him over, don’t worry.  As a matter of fact. he’s on his way here as we speak!  He’s gonna help me take some of my stuff to his apart-

Meros’s mom:

WHAT!?  Already??  I’m telling you I want to meet him first!  I am NOT letting you move out until I know the person you are moving out with!  And why with him?  Why don’t you just wait until you meet a nice girl and move out with her??  Or why not with Joan??  You’ve known her all your life!  Why a stranger?!  I’ve never forced you out of this house you know!  Why are you so eager to move out?!  First your dad, now you!

 

            Meros rolled his eyes again, trying to remain as calm as he could manage.   

 

Meros:

Mom, this has got nothing to do with dad!  Or with you even!  I’m not “leaving you”, I’m only moving out!  

Meros’s mom:

Moving out with a new friend, and in the same city as the rest of your family…  WHY?  It’s beyond my comprehension!   

 

Meros’s pink cheeks turned to a bright shade of crimson.  She had all the elements she needed to AT LEAST suspect something…  Why did she make it so hard?  Would he really have to spell it out to her??  He was starting to realize that he would when a voice rose from the living room.  

 

Young man:

Mom, SERIOUSLY…  

 

            The young man sighed heavily as he spoke.  

 

Meros’s mom:

What?!

 

The unexpected intervention clearly annoyed her.  

 

Young man:

Even *I* can tell what this is about!  And I’ve been away for the past YEAR!  Meros is the worst when it comes to hiding stuff!  And you certainly are the worst at GETTING stuff!  

Meros’s mom:

JESSA!  

 

Her voice was filled with anger, but the young man—Jessa—didn’t seem intimidated.  He rolled his eyes and spoke calmly.  

 

Jessa:

Get this over with and let me watch TV in peace!

 

Meros started to feel like he was losing control of the conversation.  He shook his head in discouragement as he heard his mom replying to his brother’s provocation.  

 

Meros’s mom:

Jessa, yo-

Meros:

MOM!  Please…  Let it go!  And listen…  

           

Meros understood now that his mom wouldn’t grasp the situation unless things were clearly exposed to her.  

 

Meros:

Thanat…  The guy who’s on his way here…  the guy you are going to meet in a few minutes…  

           

He paused for a second and anticipated his mom’s reaction, but there was no way around it.  

 

Meros:

He’s my lover.  So please, PLEASE…  

 

Meros felt dizzy.  He had confessed to his mother, finally!  It was over; she had no choice but to see the truth.  She knew everything now!  Meros felt relieved, but as the dizziness faded away, he noticed that his mom had not budged.  Her face was even paler than before and her expression, frozen.  

 

Meros:

…Mom?  

 

She took a chair and slowly sat down, shock not leaving her face.  Jessa observed the scene from the corner of his eyes.  And then there was a knock on the door.  Meros jumped at the noise and Jessa laughed.  

 

Jessa:

Eh.  Perfect timing!

 

And his attention went back to the TV.  Forgetting everything about the situation for a second, Meros went straight to the door and opened.  Thanat was standing on the other side of the door; an unusually gleeful smile enlightened his face as soon as he saw Meros, though he was soon distracted by something moving behind him.  Noticing that Thanat’s attention had moved to something behind himself, Meros turned around just in time to see his mom fleeing out of the room, and a bit later they all heard the sound of a door shutting.  Meros sighed and gave a sad smile to Thanat.  

 

Curious, Jessa had already left his seat in order to take a look at his brother’s lover.  Now standing next to Meros, he looked through the gaping door… Surprise lit Jessa’s face and his gaze went from the top area of Thanat’s face to Meros.  Meros blushed, a little annoyed.  Jessa giggled, flicked his brother on the arm and headed back to the couch.  

 

Jessa:

Go ahead and pack…  and don’t worry about a thing, I’ll be home for a while anyway, so mom won’t be alone…  Thank goodness I’m here to save the day!    

 

His attention was already back on the TV, but Jessa had made sure to glance at Meros and smirk as he had said that last sentence.  Meros glared at him for a moment, slightly annoyed, but thankful.  Thanat–whom had taken the liberty of getting into the house, gave Meros a puzzled look.  

 

Meros:

Jessa, my big brother.  

Thanat:

Ah.

 

Chapter 11
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Chapter 13

 

 

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